title: Evaluation of the postnatal development of the sternum and sternal variations using multidetector CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the postnatal development and the maturation of the sternum and sternal variations using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Additionally, we aimed to examine the roles of gender and age in sternal development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty patients who underwent thorax MDCT examinations were evaluated for sternal development and variations. Coronal curved planar reconstruction and maximum intensity projection images were used to better assess the ossification centers in the manubrium and the body of the sternum. Multiplanar images were used to accurately measure the thickness and the sagittal dimension of the manubrium, the sagittal dimension of the body, and the total sagittal dimension of the sternum in the sagittal plane.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in the manubrium measurements were observed between the genders. The thickness and sagittal dimension of the manubrium, sagittal dimension of the body, and total sagittal dimension of the sternum in the sagittal plane were significantly different between the age groups. We evaluated the ossification centers; shape and developmental variations in the manubrium and body; direction, calcification, and termination of the xiphoid process; developmental variations in the xiphoid process; and manubriosternal and sternoxiphoidal fusion. Significant variations were observed from person to person.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomy and the developmental properties of the sternum should be well understood in cases of potential chest and sternum injuries and in several surgical procedures. Therefore, knowledge of the development and the maturation of the sternum, and sternal variations and anomalies is important. We suggest that the postnatal development and the morphogenesis of the sternum can be adequately assessed using MDCT.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (H.B. e-mail: hanbayar67@gmail.com, R.D., E.A.,S.K.) and Family Medicine (E.Y.), Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Turkey; the Department of Radiology (A.B.), Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hanifi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bayaroğulları
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yengil
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davran
authors.forename: Ela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ağlagül
authors.forename: Sinem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karazincir
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balcı
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010012:Osteogenesis; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D055815:Young Adult